Arrhythmias
Abnormal heart rhythms (dysrhythmias).
Bradycardia and heart block (atrioventricular block)
Failure of proper conduction of impulses from the Sinoatrial node (SA node) though the Atrioventricular node (AV node) to the Atrioventricular bundle (bundle of his).
Cardiac pacemaker
Battery-powered apparatus implanted under the skin with leads placed on the heart. (Keeps heart beating at proper rate)
Biventricular pacemaker
Device enabling ventricles to beat together so that more blood is pumped out of the heart. (Treats delays and abnormalities in ventricular contractions.)
Flutter
Rapid but regular contractions, usually of the atria.
Fibrillation
Very rapid, random, inefficient, and irregular contractions of the heart. (350 Beats or more per minute)
Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib)(AF)
Most common type of cardiac arrhythmia.
Palpitations
Pounding,racing heartbeats. Uncomfortable sensations in the chest related to cardiac arrhythmias, such as premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
Paroxysmal AF
Irregular heartbeats occur periodically and episodically
Permanent/persistent AF
Irregular heartbeats continue indefinitely. At much greater risk for a stroke.
NOACs (novel oral anticoagulants)
Blood thinner that can reduce the risk of a stroke.
Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib)
Electrical impulses become chaotic and the heart's pump has an incorrect rhythm.
Cardiac arrest
Sudden, unexpected stoppage of heart action, often leading to sudden cardiac death.
Defibrillation
Application of an electric shock to the myocardium through the chest wall to restore normal cardiac rhythm
Digoxin, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers
Convert fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm. (Medications)
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)
Small electrical device that is implanted in the chest to sense arrhythmias and terminate them with electrical shock.
Automatic external-defibrillator (AED)
An external device attached to the chest with which to shock the heart if in asystole or arrhythmia in hopes of restarting or re-establishing a normal heart rhythm
Catheter ablation
Treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in which energy is transmitted through a catheter to remove the pathway of an abnormal heart rhythm
Congenital heart disease
Abnormalities in the heart at birth
Coarctation of the aorta (CoA)
Narrowing (coarctation) of the aorta
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
Passageway (ductus arteriosus) between the aorta and the pulmonary artery remains open (patent) after birth
Septal defects
Small holes in the wall between the atria (atrial septal defects) or the ventricles (ventricular septal defects)
Tetralogy of Fallot
Congenital malformation involving four (tetra-) distinct heart defects
Pulmonary artery stenosis
Pulmonary artery is narrow or obstructed. (Tetralogy o Fallot)
Ventricular septal defect
Large hole between two ventricles lets venous blood pass from the right to the left ventricle and out to the aorta without oxygenation (Tetralogy of Fallot)
Shift of the aorta to the right
Aorta overrides the interventricular septum. oxygen-poor blood passes from the right ventricle to the aorta. (Tetralogy of Fallot)
Hypertrophy of the right ventricle
Myocardium works harder to pump blood through a narrowed pulmonary artery. (Tetralogy of Fallot)
Cyanosis
A bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.
Congestive heart failure (CHF)
Heart is unable to pump its required amount of blood
Systolic CHF
Left ventricular dysfunction results in a low ejection fraction
Diastolic CHF
The heart can contract normally but is "stiff" or less compliant when relaxed or filling with blood
Pulmonary edema
accumulation of fluid in the lungs
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (type 1), beta blockers, digoxin
Treatments that increase excretion of water and sodium by the kidney.
Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
A booster pump implanted in the abdomen with a cannula (tube) inserted into the left ventricle. It pumps blood out of the heart to all parts of the body.
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
Disease of the arteries surrounding the heart
Atherosclerosis
Condition in which fatty deposits called plaque build up on the inner walls of the arteries
Thrombotic occlusion
Blocking of an artery by a thrombus (blood clot)
Necrosis
death of tissue
Myocardial infarction (MI)
Death of cardiac muscle due to ischemia
Acute coronary syndromes (ACSs)
Conditions caused by myocardial ischemia
Unstable angina
Chest pain at rest or chest pain of increasing frequency
myocadial infarction
Occurs when myocardial ischemia is sustained, resulting in death of myocardial cells (necrosis)
Nitroglycerin
Nitrate drug used in the treatment of angina
Nitrates
Special compounds containing nitrogen and oxygen
Aspirin
Drug to prevent clumping of platelets
Beta blockers
Drug given to reduce the force and speed of the heartbeat and to lower blood pressure.
ACE inhibitors
Drug given to reduce high blood pressure and the risk of a future heart attack even if the patient isn't hypertensive.
Calcium channel blockers
Drug given to relax muscles in the blood vessels.
Statins
Drug given to lower cholesterol
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
Vessels taken from the patient's legs or chest are connected to coronary arteries to make detours around blockages
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
A procedure in which a balloon-tipped catheter is placed in a coronary artery, and one of several methods is employed to reduce blockage within the artery. Stents are put in place.
Endocarditis
Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.
Hypertensive Heart Disease
High blood pressure affecting the heart.
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP)
Improper closure of the mitral valve
Murmur
Extra heart sound, heard between normal beats
Pericarditis
Inflammation of the membrane (pericardium) surrounding the heart.
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Heart disease caused by rheumatic fever (childhood disease that follows pharyngitis)
Aneurysm
Local widening (dilation of an arterial wall.
Deep vein thrombosis
Blood clot (thrombus) forms in a large vein, usually in the lower limb.
Hypertension (HTN)
High blood pressure.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
Blockage of arteries carrying blood to the legs, arms, kidneys and other organs.
Raynaud’s disease
Recurrent episodes of pallor and cyanosis primarily in fingers and toes.
Varicose veins
Abnormally swollen and twisted veins, usually occurring in the legs.
BNP Test
Measurement of BNP (Brain natriuretic peptide: elevated in patients with heart failure) in the blood.
Cardiac biomarkers
Chemicals are measured in the blood as evidence of a heart attack.
Lipid tests (lipid profile)
Measurement of cholesterol and triglycerides (fats) in a blood sample.
Lipoprotein electrophoresis
Lipoproteins (combinations of fat and protein) are physically separated and measured in a blood sample.
Angiography
X-ray imaging of blood vessels after injection of contrast medium.
Arteriography
X-ray imaging of arteries after injection of contrast via a catheter into the aorta or an artery.
Computed tomography angiography (CTA)
Three-dimensional x-ray images of the heart and coronary arteries using computed tomography (64 slice CT scanner)
Digital subtraction angiography (DSA)
Video equipment and a computer produce x-ray images of blood vessels.
Doppler ultrasound studies
Sound waves measure blood flow within blood vessels.
Echocardiography (ECHO)
Echoes generated by high-frequency sound waves produce images of the heart.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Images show blood flow and myocardial function following uptake of radioactive glucose.
Technetium Tc 99m sestamibi scan
Technetium Tc (9m sestamibi injected intravenously is taken up in cardiac tissue, where is detected by scanning.
Thallium 201 scan
Concentration of radioactive thallium is measured to give information about blood supply to the heart muscle.
Cardiac MRI
Images of the heart are produced using radio wave energy in a magnetic field
Cardiac catherization
Thin, flexible tube is guided into the heart via a vein or an artery.
Electrocardiography (ECG)
Recoding of electricity flowing through the heart.
Holter monitoring
An ECG (electrocardiography) device is worn during a 24-hour period to detect cardiac arrythmias.
Stress test
Exercise tolerance test (ETT) determines the heart’s response to physical exertion (stress)
Endarterectomy
Surgical removal of plaque from the inner layer of an artery.
Extracorporeal circulation
Heart-lung machine diverts blood from the heart and lungs while the heart is repaired.
Heart transplantation
Donor heart is transferred to a recipient
Thrombolytic therapy
Drugs to dissolve clots are injected into the bloodstream of patients with coronary thrombosis
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
Placement of a balloon-expandable aortic heart valve into the body via a catheter.
Thrill
Vibration felt over an area of turmoil in blood flow (as a blocked artery)
Petechiae
Small, pinpoint hemorrhages
Vegetations
Clumps of platelets, clotting proteins, microorganisms, and red blood cells on diseased heart valves.
Claudication
Pain, tension, and weakness in a leg after walking has begun, but absence of pain at rest.
Cardiac tamponade
Pressure on a heart caused by fluid in the pericardial space.